The paridoxical Chubby Hubby...

3/13/08 - Headed 5.5 mi straight downhill from Wesser Bald (which is hardest on the old man's knee) and in to the NOC.

• Breakfast at the Rivers End Restaurant - vegetarian gravy & biscuits! (who knew!? w/ a side of home fries)
• Spent $50 at a local outfitter on a pack-cover & water bag - OUCH!
• Enjoyed a pint of Ben & Jerry's - which I think maybe should have gone on his knee.
• 70 degrees & sunny!! He just got done soaking feet in the Nantahala! Says it's weird watching the kayakers & not in a boat himself...
• About to split a 6-pack with Matthew & Ron (who'll be camping with him tonight), The General & Squire (who are staying at a hostel in town), and Starbucks (don't know what he's up to).

Well hot dog...

3/12/08 - Amos, Ron, Riley, Squire, & the General stuck together pretty much all day. Riley left the group once they reached Wesser Bald Shelter to forge on toward the NOC. 18 total mi today.

• Caught 2 amazing views from 2 firetowers. Wayah Bald & Wesser Bald. Wesser Bald's view was "incredible" - could see all the way to Fontana Lake!
• More trail magic in a HUGE tent that took 2 days in and of itself to set up. Hearts helps himself to 1/2 a package of cookies, some hot chocolate, and his 1st HOT DOG IN 3 YEARS!!
• Knee is awful. Going to stop at the NOC to get knee bands & Glucosamine - apparently vitamin I is no longer cutting it...
• The General, Ron, Matthew, Squire & Starbucks at the shelter tonight.

Stuffed & bald...

3/11/08 - Got up early & set out to Siler Bald Shelter. 10 mi into the trip, came across some trail magic...

• Scarfed down the following delicious & nutritious treats (in no particular order): coke, 2 fudge rounds, a rice crispy treat, snack pack pudding cup & a bag of Doritos - which turned out to be the calm before the storm...
• Because... Upon reaching rt. 64 it was decided to tweak the plan slightly so that it now included hitchhiking to Franklin for an ALL YOU CAN EAT MEXICAN BUFFET and beer with Riley...
• It's apparently easier to hitchhike with 2 people.
• Buffet came with all you can eat cheese sauce, too...
• With full bellies, a nice young lass with a fondness for handsome thru-hikers offered to take them back to the trail where they continued on for 3 more mi to Siler Bald.
• Other knee is starting to hurt & 3rd blister formed on his left heel which is proving much more painful than the previous 2 that were on his toes.
• Tonight's shelter is holding our boy Hearts, Ron, Riley, Matthew, and The General- who's entertaining the troops by telling old war stories in his charmingly unique Brit/Aussie accent.

Hungry hungry hiker...

3/10/08 - 14 miles worth of hiking today. Camping tonight at a shelter about 3/4 of a mile down the back-end of Albert Mtn. known as Big Spring Shelter. Today's highlights include...

• A lot of creek crossing - which of course he loved
• Ate 2 lunches just cause he had the time (what a great reason to eat twice!)
• Trekked above 5,000 ft 2x today & saw his 1st 360 degree panoramic view at the top of Albert Mtn. - which of course he also loved!
• Taking lots of vitamin I for his knee - says it does a fairly good job of numbing the pain while he hikes... no comment.
• Scarfed down 8 servings of stuffing (with a 1/2 brick of cheese) for dinner (Note: eight servings is NOT a typo!!)
• Same guys are at the shelter tonight as last night but they'll most likely split up tomorrow (unnamed hiker from camp yesterday is Squire)

Hiking from GA to NC is snow-joke...

3/9/08 - Woke up to his 2nd infamous organic breakfast & FINALLY left the Blueberry Patch! I bet Gary had to kick him out... (kidding, I know he was antsy to hike yesterday) He was dropped off at the trail around 10 am.

• Started hiking with Ron & finished with Riley, a rugby player from Brown University.
• Very snowy in the mtns - especially along the north-facing slopes that didn't see the sun today. Said he had to trudge through some fairly deep drifts.
• Knee hurts ALOT - under the knee cap. Says it feels horrible going up and down hills with his pack on but it feels fine when walking around camp. Probably not going to hike more than 14 mi tomorrow. Took some vitamin I to alleviate the pain (which I've learned is his pet name for Ibuprofen).
• Hiked 17 mi to the Standing Indian Shelter. Staying with Ron, Riley, The General, and some other guy whose name he can't quite remember...
• It's going to be REALLY cold tonight - in the low 20's. He said his nose is frozen & he won't write in his journal because he refuses to take his hands out of his gloves!
• Looking forward his 1st big climb above 5000 ft tomorrow! Please pray for that knee!